Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire will celebrate the centenary of its well-known 555 route between Lancaster and Keswick on Sunday 14 September with the assistance of a convoy of historic buses from the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust (RVPT) collection.
The vehicles will convey invited guests along the 45-mile journey. They will include a 1962 Leyland PD3, a 1965 Leyland Leopard, a 1976 Leyland Atlantean, and a 1996 Volvo B10M.
Route 555 is described by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire Managing Director Tom Waterhouse as “a moving piece of history.” He adds that the operator wanted to do something special to mark the service’s 100th anniversary.
“What better than a cavalcade of restored buses traversing the full route through Lancaster, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick? It will bring back memories for older passengers and, to show how buses have improved, one of our modern double-deckers will bring up the rear.”
In 2023, the operator invested £3 million in a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers for route 555. Those buses are to a high specification and include tables with wireless charging, and enhanced legroom.
The service is described by Stagecoach as “arguably the most scenic in Britain.” It gives views of six lakes – Bassenthwaite, Derwent Water, Grasmere, Rydal Water, Thirlmere and Windermere – and traverses the foot of Helvellyn, England’s third-highest mountain.
Route 555 was launched by Henry Meageen as the Westmorland Main Service in 1925. It was later operated by Ribble Motor Services as the 68 before being renumbered 555 in 1969 and has remained like that ever since under Cumberland Motor Services and latterly Stagecoach.
Departure time for the convoy on 14 September is 0900hrs from Lancaster bus station, calling at Kendal bus station from 0950-1020hrs, Grasmere Stocks Lane at 1110hrs, Grasmere Broadgate at 1140hrs, and Thirlmere Swirls carpark from 1200-1210hrs.
It will return from Keswick at 1400hrs, calling at Grasmere The Swan at 1450hrs and Kendal Bus Station at 1540hrs.
RVPT Company Secretary Lance Jobson comments: “The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust is proud to play a key role in keeping the North West’s rich transport heritage alive.
“Our volunteers work tirelessly to restore and maintain historic buses, many of which once operated on route like the 555. Events like this give us the chance to showcase our collection and share the story of Ribble’s transport history with new generations. It is about preserving the past so people can experience it first-hand today.”
